The Spectacular Art of Jean-Léon Gérôme
Through September 12The Getty Center
He was one of the most honored and financially successful French artists of the late 19th century. A pioneer in sculpture and photography. A major influence on theater and film. Yet for most of the 20th century, Jean-Léon Gérôme was dismissed as a commercial sellout and a reactionary against the forces of Modernism.

Now, the first comprehensive exhibition on Gérôme in almost 40 years invites you to experience his work for yourself. The show features beautiful, seductive works from public and private collections that span Gérôme's career, from lighthearted takes on classical antiquity to Orientalist genre paintings to ornate and colorful sculptures.

Engaged Observers: Documentary Photography since the Sixties
Through November 14The Getty Center
This powerful new exhibition features work by key photographers who have combined their skills as reporters and artists, developing extended photographic essays that delve deeply into the human condition. Among the projects on view are Philip Jones Griffiths's Vietnam Inc., a compelling inquiry into the failure of the U.S. war effort; Lauren Greenfield's Girl Culture, a riveting look at consumer society's effect on women; and Larry Towell's The Mennonites, a moving portrait of a nonconformist culture.

From Line to Light: Renaissance Drawing in Florence and Venice
July 20–October 10The Getty Center
See some of the Getty Museum's masterpieces of drawing—by Fra Bartolommeo, Andrea Mantegna, Jacopo Pontormo, Raphael, Andrea del Sarto, and Titian—in this exhibition that explores work on paper in Renaissance Rome, Florence, and Venice and shows how the art form of drawing rose in status from technical exercise to "the father of the arts."

Portrait of a Young Woman (detail), attributed to Andrea Previtali, about 1520–25

The Beffi Triptych
Through September 5The Getty Center
Miraculously spared from damage in the catastrophic earthquake that struck Abruzzo, Italy, in 2009, this stunning late Gothic altarpiece is on loan from the Italian government as a gesture of gratitude toward the United States, one of the first countries to assist after the earthquake.

The beautiful triptych (three-panel painting), which depicts scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary in brilliant colors and rich gold leaf, is on display alongside the Getty Museum's collection of late Gothic and early Renaissance paintings.

The Madonna and Child with Scenes from the Life of Christ and the Virgin (The Beffi Triptych), Master of the Beffi Triptych, about 1420–40, Museo Nazionale d'Abruzzo, L'Aquila, Italy. Courtesy of the Soprintendenza dell'Abruzzo e la Direzione Regionale dell'Abruzzo

The Gela Krater
Through October 11The Getty Villa
A monumental, exquisitely painted Greek vessel depicting a battle between Greeks and Amazons is on loan from the Museo Archeologico Regional in Agrigento, Sicily. See it in Stories of the Trojan War (Gallery 110) at the Getty Villa, where it complements other works illustrating scenes from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

Villa Theater Series: Sophocles' ElektraTickets on sale July 1
Previews: Thursday–Saturday, September 2–4
Performances: Thursdays–Saturdays, September 9–October 2The Getty Villa
Tickets go on sale July 1 for this dynamic new production of Elektra, the annual Outdoor Theater Production at the Getty Villa. One of Sophocles' most elegant and haunting works, Elektra celebrates the human desire for justice and the costs exacted upon those who seek it. Tickets $42; $38 students/seniors. Previews $20.

Saturdays Off the 405
Saturdays, July 10 and 24, 6:00–9:00 p.m.
July 10: Dawes
July 24: Bomba EstéreoThe Getty Center
A double dose of outdoor music for July: on the 10th, chill out with guitar-fueled folk by Dawes, and on the 24th, rev up with Bomba Estéreo's fusion of hip-hop and dub all the way from Bogota. Dip into the galleries for Gérôme and photography, grab a Getty-tini, and stroll the gardens at sunset.

It's free, no reservations required, and parking is FREE after 5:00 p.m.

Gérôme's Cinematic Imagination
Thursday, July 22, 7:00 p.m.The Getty Center
Jean-Léon Gérôme's paintings were reproduced across Europe in the 1800s, captivating the popular imagination much as images of Hollywood do today. Art historian Marc Gotlieb presents Gérôme's paintings through the lens of modern cinema, revealing how his use of suspense and dramatic storytelling presaged the techniques of film. Free; reservations required.

The Geocentric Man: Ptolemy's Scientific Treatises
Thursday, July 22, 7:30 p.m.The Getty Villa
Claudius Ptolemy is best known for arguing that the Earth stood still at the center of the universe—but he was, in fact, one of the most wide-ranging and intelligent scientists of the Roman Empire. Classicist Alexander Jones revisits Ptolemy's contributions and describes his enduring influence. Free; a ticket is required.

Books that Matter for People Who Care
Friday, July 23, 3:00 p.m.The Getty Center
Celebrate the art of letterpress at this special afternoon event. Publisher David Godine talks about letterpress books made by his company between 1970 and 1985 and collected by the Getty Research Institute. A reception, tour of the GRI special collections, and signing of the book Godine at Forty: A Retrospective of Four Decades in the Life of an Independent Publisher follows. Free; reservations required.

From Line to Light: Renaissance Drawing in Florence and Venice
Wednesday, July 21, 10:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.The Getty Center
Take inspiration from the greatest draftsmen of western art at this daylong drawing workshop led by artist Richard Houston. You'll compare and contrast the practice of drawing in Renaissance Florence and Venice first-hand in the Museum galleries, then work from a life model to explore gesture, form, and light. Course fee $125 (includes materials and lunch). Open to 25 participants. Also offered on Wednesday, September 22.

Free Family Fun
All summer long!The Getty Center | The Getty Villa
Head for the Getty Center and the Getty Villa this summer for FREE family activities sure to inspire your child's inner artist. Enjoy gallery programs, concerts, art-making activities, a game of ancient monsters and heroes, and more. Plus, check out our new family audio tour featuring animals in art!

Featured itemSocially Aware PhotographyEngaged Observers: Documentary Photography Since the Sixties—published on the occasion of the exhibition opening June 29—looks in depth at photographic essays by a selection of the most vital figures who have contributed to this critically engaged approach. Hardcover, $49.95.

Admission to the Getty Villa is FREE. A ticket is required. Each general admission ticket allows you to bring up to three children ages 15 and under with you in one car. Parking is $15, but FREE for evening events after 5:00 p.m.Plan your visit